PLYMPTON and PLYMOUTH, MA Issued August 26, 2019 . . . The Massachusetts cranberry industry community gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the 132nd Annual Meeting of Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association (CCCGA), a tribute to cranberries as the Commonwealth’s largest agricultural food crop. More than 200 cranberry growers and their employees, industry leaders, businesses that provide goods and services to the industry, legislators and federal and state agencies were present.

Longtime industry supporter Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA 9th District) addressed attendees, speaking about ongoing efforts on Capitol Hill affecting the industry. Senator Mike Rodrigues of Westport and Representative Bill Straus of Mattapoisett, both of whom serve on the UMass Cranberry Station Board of Oversight, spoke on the latest legislative and budgetary efforts at the State House. Newly appointed Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Katie Theoharides and Massachusetts Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux also delivered remarks. An emotional highlight came when Clark Griffith, an octogenarian cranberry grower, received the inaugural Massachusetts Cranberry Heritage Award for countless years of dedication and service to the cranberry industry.

Statistician Bruce Eklund from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) closed the meeting by delivering the 2019 cranberry crop forecast for the United States, divided into five primary growing states - Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. According to the report, Massachusetts is projecting a crop of 2.3 million barrels (each barrel equals 100 pounds), up approximately 3% from the 2018 final crop figures. Overall, the total U.S. cranberry crop is projected to be 9.04 million barrels, up 4% from the 2018 harvest.

Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association represents more than 325 cranberry growers in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and Nantucket. Cranberries are the largest agricultural food commodity produced in Massachusetts, with an annual crop value of $60.2 million. Massachusetts is home to 30% of all North American cranberry acreage and according to a recent Farm Credit East Knowledge Exchange Report, provides over 6,900 jobs and a total economic benefit of over $1.4 billion to the Massachusetts economy. For further information, contact Brian Wick, Executive Director, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, [email protected] or at 508-866-7878. For the latest updates, visit cranberries.org or follow the Association on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Photos: Courtesy, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association. Publication recipients have permission to use the photos on all media platforms, no limitations on use. Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association is the owner of the rights to use the photos.

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